Putin, Cameron Discuss Syria... Lavrov: Chemical Claims Pretext for Military Move

Local Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday discussed with British Prime Minister David Cameron during a phone call the situation in Syria and issues related to the coming summit of G20 due next month in Petersburg.

"The basic topic was related to the situation in Syria in light of press reports about the possibility of using chemical weapons near Damascus," Press office of the Russian Presidency announced.

Spokesman of the British Prime Minister said that President Putin told Cameron that there is no evidence on the Syrian forces' use of chemical weapons against "the armed opposition" and there is no proof on an attack by chemical weapon which had taken place.

For his part, Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov said that the accusations leveled at the Syrian government of using chemical weapons are null and aimed at finding a pretext for using force against Syria.

''Washington, London and Paris have made official statements claiming that they have powerful evidence that incriminate the Syrian authorities, but have failed so far to substantiate their claims, '' Lavrov said during a press conference in the Russian capital, Moscow.

He further added: "They are ratcheting up rhetoric and say a red line has been overstepped and that there should not be procrastination about it."
''These statements contravene the agreements reached by the G8 leaders during their summit last June which stressed that any case involving the use of chemical weapons must be investigated in detail and that the findings be submitted to the UN Security Council .''

Lavrov said that ''Russia insists on investigating whatever information or news on a possible use of chemical weapons or poisonous materials, and is currently investigating the case through analyzing internet data that raises doubts about the possibility that the Syrian government might have used chemical weapons.''
''Those who are seeking the use of force against Syria have not so far consented to an agreement reached between the Syrian government and UN experts for visiting the sites where an alleged chemical weapons attack occurred.''''Those sides rebuff the agreement and say it is overdue, and that all evidence on using chemical weapons have been damaged,'' said Lavrov.
''Why did not our Western partners speak in the same way about an investigation into chemical weapons use in Khan al-Assal in Aleppo countryside last Spring, and no one spoke of evidence possibly damaged?" Lavrov enquired.

In parallel, the Russian top diplomat highlighted that "the Syrian government has no interest in using chemical weapons at a time when the UN mission commenced work and amid a favorable security situation, not to mention Russia's and the US's efforts to convene the international conference to solve the crisis in Syria."
Lavrov said that media leaks on a use of chemical weapons coincided with preparations for a Russian-US new meeting to pave the way for the international conference on Syria due to be convened in Geneva in what was apparently ''intended to wreck the efforts for convening the conference .''

''It is clear that those sides and circles are after subduing the Syrian government as evident from the media campaign to aggravate the crisis in Syria,'' Lavrov added, and warned that "the new attempts to topple the regime by force emerge to wreck all peace chances like what happened with the Arab observers and the UN mission in Syria.''
''We see the same attempts to ruin the Russian-US initiative,'' Lavrov added.

''Unlike the Syrian government which has agreed to dispatching a delegation to Geneva without preconditions, the Syrian opposition has yet to agree to a similar step five months later,'' Lavrov said, calling for clarifying the signals that the Syrian opposition is receiving from its sponsors.

''The use of force in Iraq and Libya has incurred dire consequences and there have been no security, stability or improvement in living conditions in the region. Quite the contrary; we are witnessing a state of unprecedented instability, and urge everyone to be patient and responsible and not to repeat the mistakes of the past,'' Lavrov pointed out.

Moreover, the Russian FM stated that "any use of force without a resolution by the UN Security council would be considered as a flagrant violation of the UN charter."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team